The future of recruitment: a mixed-methods scenario analysis in Germany

Stephan Weinert, Elmar Günther and Silko Pfeil

International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management, 2025, vol. 24, issue 1/2, 72-108

Abstract: The shortage of skilled workers is becoming increasingly concerning for companies, as it poses a significant risk to their competitiveness. To counter this shortage, recruiting professionals need to be more effective than ever before. To obtain an evidence-based evaluation of the likely developments in recruiting in Germany, a scenario study was conducted. To comprehensively address our common research question, we employ a mixed-methods approach, integrating both qualitative interviews and a quantitative survey. This combination allows us to capture a broad range of data, providing a deeper understanding of the research problem. After an initial qualitative survey of experts from practice and academia, various scenarios for the future of recruiting were developed. These scenarios were then evaluated in a subsequent quantitative study by 208 practitioners in terms of their impact on the current and future situation as well as on the practical work of recruiters. Overall, the study reveals significant challenges that will be confronted in recruitment up to the year 2035. If these scenarios materialise, companies in general and recruiting departments in particular will encounter a substantial need for change in the forthcoming years.

Keywords: recruitment; scenario analysis; recruiting professional skill-set; recruitment methods; recruitment tools; future studies; Germany. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=147077 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ids:ijhrdm:v:24:y:2025:i:1/2:p:72-108

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management from Inderscience Enterprises Ltd
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sarah Parker ().